The first book ever written on D&D's co-designer!

Originally published in April 2017 by Three Line Studio as a perfect bound book — and recently sold out — Dave Arneson's True Genius is available again, this time as a downloadable PDF, exclusively from our store!

This 72-page publication presents three linked essays forming the first major treatise on David L. Arneson, the man behind the role-playing frenzy that swept the nation 1974 onward and that continues to this very day world wide; and all of it, as revealed herein, based upon a unique systems architecture he invented and utilized for his make believe campaign world, Blackmoor, circa 1971.

This extensively researched work reveals:

That Arneson broke with 2,000 years of game design history and theory by creating and implementing a transcendent systems structure never before conceived of in the history of games or play. The author examines and explains Arneson’s evolutionary systems architecture.

That the design dimension qualities of Arneson’s systems structure are still in their embryonic stages due to his original concept being redacted for a less robust system, and by the very company which was catapulted from a basement concern to a near 1 million dollar business almost “overnight” while at first championing it.

That outstanding claims that the RPG concept, as first made available commercially as Original Dungeons & Dragons™ in 1974, is descended from the game Chainmail are incorrect and stem from assumptive leaps of logic not consonant with design theory or systems theory. Both of the latter’s knowledge bases are utilized by the author to debunk this ongoing fallacy.

Included as addenda to this work is a section and chapter outline, including select samples, from the author’s upcoming and much larger work, A New Ethos in Game Design: The Paradigm Shift Originated by Dungeons & Dragons™, 1972-1977.

Product Description: Downloadable and fully printable colour PDF in booklet style, 72 pages, size 6.00" x 9.00", full colour cover. Viewable on all electronic devices (PC/MAC/Android) equipped with FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Please note that DATG will only be available in PDF format for the foreseeable future, and until further notice.

Don't miss out on our current TWO offers around Dave Arneson's True Genius!

1) ** HOT $3.00 SAVING TIP! ** Purchase 'THE DATG 4CAT BUNDLE' for $15.00 and save $3.00. THE DATG 4CAT BUNDLE = DAVE ARNESON'S TRUE GENIUS + THE 4TH CATEGORY. The discount is only applicable when you purchase the actual BUNDLE product from our product listing.

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